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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA2 COUNCIL ACTION FORM October 26, 1982 SUBJECT: Snow and Ice Control for the City of Ames BACKGROUND: This Report is in response to previous concerns of the City Council that the City provide an adequate level of service for the control of ice on the streets and the clearing of streets following snow storms. Attached here- with is substantial background information on the current snow and ice control field procedures and practices, typical snow and ice control re- sponse schedule, snow response areas from various jurisdictions, a snow and ice control survey from other communities, and a proposed new snow route system map. The presentation tonight will also describe the various snow plowing districts and ice control routes. Because of the concern for efficiency of operation and the desire to provide the best possible service for ice control and snow removal, the staff proposes the following changes to regulations that affect the snow and ice control operations: 1. Declare all major streets and bus routes as snow routes. These streets are outlined in the attached map and include most of the streets that have been designated as through streets or have been designated as bus routes. 2. Prohibit all parking on streets designated as snow routes on an automatic basis whenever there is 3" of snow or more. This prohibition would be in affect until the street has been fully plowed, but in no case for more than 48 hours after the snow ceases to fall. As noted on the attached map this would only affect approximately two-thirds of the arterials designated since the other streets already have no-parking at any time. 3. Authorize the towing of vehicles in areas where parking is restricted under Section 18.22 (1) , (these are the streets where snow is normally removed in the downtown and campus town areas) , after the posting of no parking sign boxes for a period of eight hours. The cleaning of these commercial streets is important because there are very few areas where the snow can be stored and it is not possible to do an adequate job of cleaning with mechanical equipment around parked cars. This would not change the piling of snow from small snow storms at various points and hauling out at a later date. On larger snows the best practice is to windrow the snow and make a complete removal. 4. Authorize the City Manager to post other streets with snow plowing or snow removal problems for emergency no parking and thereby authorize towing after 12 hours of posted notice. These notices are normally placed with 2 or 3 per block on the side of street affected. This operation is desirable following large snow storms since it is necessary for the city crews to go back and clear out areas that had extensive parked cars or otherwise could not be cleared during the original snow plowing operations. Council Action Form Page Two The above changes in practices on major streets and bus routes would permit a more efficient operation and since it would be in affect when- ever the city plows these routes, the public would become accustomed to this type of operation. Another advantage is that this is more similar to the prohibitions in some of the metro area communities, who have ordinances in effect during every plowing operation. Since the public would not always understand the practice of plowing when 3 inches of snow accumulates on the street, notice would be given to the media as early as possible. Some other negative aspects of the plan would be the reduction in on-street parking space available to residents, the need for a learning period for the change in practice, and the negative aspects of having to tow some cars. MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: It is recommended that the City Council adopt a new policy on the plowing of major streets and bus routes and adopting parking regulations for these routes. The new policy would also authorize towing of vehicles for the removal of snow in the downtown and campus town areas, and the establishment of emergency no parking on special problem streets.